Members of City Council and staff visited Raleigh for meetings with the Governor, legislators and other state leaders

(RALEIGH, N.C.) – Representatives City of Charlotte attended the North Carolina League of Municipalities Annual Town Hall Day on Wednesday, June 4. Town Hall Day draws elected officials, business and civic leaders, and municipal staff to Raleigh to personally visit state legislators and discuss issues of importance to municipalities. About 600 municipal leaders from across the state attended Town Hall Day.

During Town Hall Day, attendees met one-on-one with their General Assembly representatives and heard from Gov. Pat McCrory, who spoke about the goals for his administration at the afternoon state agencies panel discussion with North Carolina Secretary of Transportation Tony Tata and Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Rural Economic Development Dr. Pat Mitchell. In addition, N.C. Rep. Tim Moore and N.C. Sen. Bob Rucho spoke to Town Hall Day attendees about legislative decisions affecting municipalities.

“Charlotte's bi-partisan Council delegation called upon General Assembly members from both parties, demonstrating that local government issues are mostly not Republican and Democratic,” said Charlotte City Council member Ed Driggs, who chairs the City’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee. “We voiced a desire to build a stronger working relationship with members of the General Assembly so that we can work cooperatively on behalf of the people of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.”

Charlotte City Council members emphasized the following critical issues to State legislators:

Restoration of revenue from the repeal of the Business Privilege License Tax

Restoration of a 4% cut in public transportation by the Senate

Retention of film credits

Authorization for Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) to operate buses up to 60 ft. in length

“It’s necessary that our municipal officials are present in Raleigh,” said League President and Goldsboro Mayor Al King. “Our job as elected leaders is to represent our citizens and ensure the passing legislation is helpful to them.”

About the LeagueThe North Carolina League of Municipalities is a membership association of 540 great hometowns – representing nearly every municipality in the state. The League advocates for its members, from the largest city to the smallest village, on the full range of legislative issues that affect municipalities.For more than 100 years, the League has promoted – and continues to promote – good government by offering non-partisan advocacy, insurance and other services – as directed by its membership.